Talking machine



H. FAUCHET June 12, 1934.

TALKING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l H. obucbe H. FAUCHETJune 12, 1934.

TALKING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 1932 m im e e WM T 4 #fr4 7 .d 0 n 1 .d f .d :un U fd\ ff 7l 2 6 n a Patented june 12, 1934UNilTE TATES p 1,962,813 TALKING MACHINE Honor Fauchet, Paris, FranceApplication June 6, 1932, Serial No. 615,736 ln France June 10, 1931 'i'Claims.

n talking machines (phonographs) actually on the market, the tubular armsupporting the reproducer, as well as the solid arm supporting thepick-up, i1" electrical reproduction is under consideration, is rigidand is driven from the periphery of the record towards the center, orreversely, by the recording grooves, under the action of the rotation ofthe record, by describing an arc of circle throughout the recorded area.

For that purpose, this tubular or solid arm, according as an acousticreproducer or a pick-up is under consideration, has its pivoting centerplaced outside the periphery of the record and at a point as far aspossible away from the center oi the latter, for reducing the drivingstress to be overcome and also for reducing the pitch ci the arcdescribed by the reproducer on the recorded area.

lThis principle of construction of talking machines adopted by allmanufacturers has numerous inconveniences among which the following canbe cited: The sounds reproduced are lacking in faithfulness andclearness,-a reproduction in its entirety, orchestras in particular,considered on the totality of the recorded area, are lacking inhomogeneity,-the recorded grooves wear oir more rapidly on one and thesame side,

thus shortening the lite of the record and caus-' ing it to rapidly loseits initial musical qualities-the stylus of the reproducer wears ofivery quickly and always on one and the same side, thus rendering itpractically useless for the audition or a second record,-usually, ascratching noise, which is at the least untimely, is prejudicious to theaudition, and more particularly if soft music is being reproduced,-inpractical use, if great care is not taken when placing the stylus in thefirst groove of the record already rotating, it sometimes happens thatthe reproducer is rapidly returned, by its pivoting arm, towards thecenter or towards the exterior of the record and scratches the latter,which, from that moment, can no longer be used for new auditions-inpractice, the audition of flexible records is impossible.

It has been proposed to devise talking machines and recording machinesin which the arm supporting the reproducer or the recording oscillographreceives a rectilinear movement of translation.

ln this apparatus, the tone arm is telescopic, it is rigidly connectedto the tube supporting the reproducer, the connection of which with itssupporting tube is effected by means of a universal joint having ailexible or resilient articulation.

The rectilinear movement of translation is imparted to the reproducerand, consequently, to the telescopic tube, by the motor of theapparatus, by means of a belt transmission or through gears actuating aworm meshing with a nut rigid with the supporting tube of thereproducer.

This general arrangement, in its application to phonographs, was chieiyadapted, owing to the rectilinear displacement of the reproducer, toavoid any useless friction on the sides of the grooves, to delay thewear of the record and needle or stylus of the reproducer, and,consequently, to partly remedy the inconvenience resulting, in thesetalking machines, from the angular movement described by the reproducer.

Now the recording pitches of records are very different according to therms effecting the records and even for one and the same rm, and, for arecorded area from 85 to 90 m/m in width, a dierence from 18 t0v 20 m/mis often noticed. In these conditions, it will be understood that therectilinear displacement of the reproducer according to a radial line ofthe record, by means of a separate control as above set forth, cannot besuccessfully applied to reproducing phonographs which must be capableor" utilizing all records found on the market.

In fact, after a, short displacement of the reproducer moved accordingto a straight line by the above mentioned means, a wedging of the styluson the sides of the groove, either in front, or behind, necessarilytakes place, so that the result obtained is the reverse of that desired.The wear of the record and needle, as well as the scratching noise areincreased; the resistant stress is rendered more variable on thetotality of the recorded area and, consequently, the speed of rotationof the record varies, resulting in a lack of homogeneity in thereproduced sounds.

The telescopic tone arm supporting the reproducer receiving arectilinear displacement from a separate driving device, has, moreover,the inconvenience of increasing by inertia, friction and wedging of thesliding parts, the driving stress to be overcome for ensuring therotation of the record, which stress is very variable during theaudition of one and the same record and still more from one record toanother, if the differences of recording pitch between the variousrecords used are taken into consideration. This results in a lack ofhomogeneity of the reproduced sounds, and the necessity of employing amotor more powerful than that used in a standard phonograph found in thetrade.

Finally, the method of connecting the reproducer and its supporting tubeby a universal joint having a flexible articulation, seems to beparticularly adopted in order to lessen, to a certain extent, thedifference of the recording pitches noticed from one record to another.Now, owing to this relative and very limited mobility of the reproducerrelatively to its supporting arm, the groove brakes the movement of thereproducer, the needle or stylus rubs with greater force on one side ofthe groove than in the case of pivotal movement, so that the scratchingnoise is increased and the wear of the record and needle is more rapid.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a tone arm,associated with a supporting means, particularly devised to remedy theforegoing objectionable features. The essential novel feature of thepresent invention is a tone arm including in its tubular wall anintermediate section consisting of a thin strip of resilient materialspirally wound around the axis of the tone arm and connecting the endsection thereof. The coils of this spiral section overlap so that thetone arm, as a whole, can be easily contracted or extended when slightforce is applied to that end.

During the operation of the phonograph, the stylus follows the rocordgroove and tends to move inwardly the outer end of the tone arm. Thespiral coils of the intermediate section readily telescopic under theslight pressure imparted by the outer end of the tone arm and there isbut slight friction between the stylus and the walls of the recordgroove. A yielding support is provided to maintain the several parts ofthe tone arm in their axial relation during the movement of the outerend arm and the telescopic action of the intermediate section.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, a form ofconstruction of talking machine constructed according to the saidinvention, will be described hereinafter, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section made according to line A-A ofFig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section, on a smaller scale, made accordingto line B-B of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail end view oi the flared tubular bend forming anextension of the telescopic and extensible tone arm.

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 1, showing a modification on asmaller scale.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the box 1 of the phonographaccording to the invention, which encloses, in the known manner, thespring ork electric motor driving the turntable 2 on which the record isplaced, is perforated, at the centre of its upper panel 3, with n anopening for the passage of the vertical shaft of the said turntable 2,and supports, on the said upper panel 3, the outer channel through whichthe sounds issue.

This outer channel comprises, according to the present invention, a tonearm consisting oi three tubular elements 4, 5 and 6.

The first element 4 is constituted by a rigid tube supporting thereproducer 7, the second element 5 by a tube constituted by a thin stripof vmetal or other suitable material, wound in a Locasls spiral in thesame way as a conical spring which is secured, by its coil of greaterdiameter, in a socket 8 rigidly held in a collar 9 integral with thesupport 10 attached to the panel 3 of the box of the apparatus. Thereare fitted together in the socket 8: on one side, the outer coil oflarger diameter of the resilient acoustic tube 5 and on the other side,the sleeve 28 terminating in the bend 6 which may be displaced in thesaid socket about the rod l2. The extreme edge of the sleeve 28 isprovided with notches 29, in one of which engages an abutment or finger36 secured in the fixed socket 8 and maintaining the bend 6 in theposition given to it.

This acoustic tube 5, which is light and atonic, is, owing to itsconstitution, resilient, telescopic and extensible, and in the coil ofsmaller diameter of this tube is secured the rigid tube 4 carrying thereproducer.

The third element of the outer channel through which the sounds issue,is constituted by a flared tubular bend 6 which fits, by its end ofsmaller diameter, in the socket 8 providedV in the extension of thetelescopic and extensible resilient tube 5, so that it can be angularlymoved about the longitudinal axis of the said tube 5, in order tomodify, at will, the setting of the bend 6 and to move the opening oflarger diameter of the latter, opposite the acoustic channel provided inthe apparatus and through which the sounds issue, as will be explainedhereinafter.

The telescopic and extensible tube 5 is made in such a manner that itsresiliency, limited to a very small value, naturally tends to hold thesaid tube in the nonextended position, its coils fitting in each otherthus retracting the rigid tube 4 carrying the reproducer '7, towards thefixed socket 8 in which the telescopic and extensible tube is secured byits end opposite to that provided with the said rigid tube 4.

A slight pull exerted by hand on this rigid tube 4, which is suitablyguided so that it can be moved in a straight line according to thelongitudinal axis of the telescopic and extensible tube 5, overcomes theresistance of the conical spring constituting the said tube 5 and lthusmoves the latter to the extended position, in which the stylus 7a of thereproducer rests on a cushion 11 arranged in a housing of the upper ifreely slide between the supports 13 and 14,

through the medium of a sleeve l5, secured in a socket 16 rigid with thesaid tube 4 and provided with linings 17, suitably lubricated andthrough which the fixed guide rod 12 passes.

In this example, this rod 12 is arranged in the axis of the telescopicand extensible tube 5, it extends throughout the length of the latter,and, at the end opposite to the rigid tube 4, it passes through anopening of a socket 18 rigid with the flared tubular bend 6, so as toserve as supf f porting spindle on which the said tubular bend rotates.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 5, the rigid tube 4 and thereproducer integral therewith are rectilinearly guided by means of acollar 19 held on the tube 4 between two rings 20 of the said tube andsliding on two parallel rods 21 and 22, arranged outside the telescopicand extensible tube 5 and secured, the upper one, in two supports 23 and24, and the lower one, in one or these two supports and in anothersupport indicated at 25.

In this form of construction, the collar 19 carries a sleeve 15a which,as that 15 described above, slides on the upper rod 21 through themedium of lubricated linings 17a. The iiared tubular bend 6, the end ofsmaller diameter of which is fitted in the xed socket 8, is supported,by its socket 18, on a spindle 26, about which it can be angularly movedand which is screwed in the support 23.

These two methods of guiding are given by way of example only and areadapted to allow the telescopic and extensible tube 5 to automaticallycollapse and to extend in the direction of its axis, by ensuring, at thesame time, the rectilinear displacement of the rigid tube 4 carrying thereproducer 7. In both of the above forms of construction, the tube 5encloses a metal blade or rod 27 which is secured, at one of its ends,in the coil of smaller diameter of the tube 5 and is suiliciently rigidfor preventing flexure of the said tube in the extended position.

The flared tubular bend 6, angularly movable in the fixed socket 8, isguided in the latter by means of a sleeve .28r provided, on its extremeedge, with notches 29 which engage, according to the position given tothe said bend, with an abutment 30 secured in the xed socket 8 andadapted to limit the angular displacements of this bend and to hold itstationary in deiinite positions.

In the positions shown in full lines in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the branchof larger cross section of this tubular bend is vertically moved and itsorifice opens opposite an acoustic channel through which the soundsissue and which is arranged within the box.

In the example illustrated, this channel is constitute-:i by a tube 31,widely flared towards the orifice through which the sounds issue; thistube opens on the top of the box, or on one of the sides of the latterand is provided with a damper constituted by a fixed disc 32, in whichopenings 33 are cut out and under which is mounted, on a central shaft34, a second disc 35 similar to the first one and provided with a knob36 allowing to move it angularly, in order to totally or partially movein register both series of openings and to thus modify the cross sectionof the orice through which the sounds issue.

The various parts of the talking machine according to the inventionoccupying the position of rest shown in the drawing, the said machine isset in action in the following manner:

Any reco-rd 4l is placed on the turntable 2 which is caused to rotate inthe usual manner. The reproducer 7 is raised by causing the rigid tubecarrying it to rock about its guide rod l2 and the stylus '7a of thisreproducer is placed in the first groove of the record, which groove, inthe example illustrated, is the external groove.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the rigid tube 4 carryingthe reproducer is simultaneously subjected to the combined action of theresilient returning force or the telescopic and extensible tube 5, ofthe groove of the record, and of the rotation of the latter, andthat itis thereby directly and automatically moved, on its guide rod, in aperfectly rectilinear direction, according to a radial line or" therecord, from the periphery towards the center of the latter, in theexample under consideration, or reversely, by modifying the arrangementof the external acoustic channel through which the sounds issue.

Whatever may be the direction in which the reproducer is rectilinearlymoved, the stylus of the latter, owing to the arrangement adopted, is

always placed at the point of tangency of the` groove in which it isengaged, whatever may be the point considered of its travel on therecorded. area which can reach the center of the record. 'IhisI stylusis thereby never wedged or abnormally pressed upon one of the sides ofthe groove; there is therefore no unnecessary eliminated, the life ofthe record is lengthened as well as its musical qualities, the stylus orneedle normally Wears off and can, without inconvenience, be used forthe audition of severalrecords.

When, as in the position shown in the drawing, the acoustic channel 31is used, it is possible, by suitable displacement of the damper 35, toreduce at will the volume of the sounds reproduced, in order to hear anddiscriminate in a better manner.

rIhe arrangements described above are, of course, given by Way ofexample only, and it is obvious that the forms, materials and'dimensionsof the constituent parts can be modied without departing thereby fromthe scope of the invention. The same arrangements might also be appliedto talking machines of any designs for acoustic or electric audition andto all apparatus and machines for recording sounds and human voice, tothe acoustic, electric and mechanic audition or reproduction ofphonographic records.

In the example shown, the reproducer 7 is assumed to be a needlereproducer, so that the tube 4 is slightly flared for the easy travel ofthe sounds and is bent with rounded angles at both ends for its junctionwith the tube 3 and with the reproducer 7.

This rigid acoustic tube 4, adapted to receive an acoustic reproducer,as illustrated in the drawing, might, in the case of electricalreproduction, be modified or evefn replaced by a rod i adapted tosupport a pick-up, but secured on the telescopic tube 5 and guided onthe rod 12, as explained above.

I claim:

1. Talking machine comprising a reproducer, a rigid arm supporting thisreproducer, a telescopic and extensible resilient tone arm constitutedby a thin band of metal wound in a spiral in the same way as a conicalspring, a iixed support, a socket carried by this support and in whichis secured the outer coil of larger diameter of the said spring in thecoil of smaller diameter of which is secured the rigid arm supportingthe reproducer.

2. Talking machine comprising a reproducer,

a telescopic and extensible resilient tone arm, a rigid arm supportingthe reproducen a horizontal rod supporting the said rigid arm, arrangedin the longitudinal axis of the tone arm and passing through the latterthroughout its length, a iixed bracket supporting each end of said rod,lsaid rod rectilinearly guiding the rey producer according to a radialline of the record and ensuring the gradual telescoping of the said tonearm. Y

3. Talking machine comprising a reproducer, 'a rigid arm supporting thisreproducer, a telescopic and extensible resilient tone arm, a flaredtubular bend through which the sounds issue, and a horizontal guide rodsupporting the said rigidrarm and passing through the said tone arm andthrough the flared tubular bend.

fi. Talking machine comprising a reproducer, a rigid arm supporting thisreproducer, a telescopic and extensible resilient tone arm, two parallelrods arranged outside the said tone arm for guiding the said reproducer,rings rigid with the arm supporting the reproducer, and a collar mountedbetween the said rings.

5. In a talking machine, a tone arm comprising a stationary end section,a movable end sec tion, and an extensible-contractible intermediatesection connecting the two end sections; said intermediate sectionconsisting of a spirally wound band of resilient material with the conntiguous edges of the spirals overlapping to permit telescoping of theintermediate section during extension and contraction of the tone arm.

6. In a talking machine, a tone arm compris-#- ing a stationary endsection, a movable end section, and an extensible-contractibleintermediate section connecting the two end sections; said intermediatesection consisting of a spirally wound band of resilient material withthe contiguous edges of the spirals overlapping to permit teiescoping ofthe intermediate section during extension and contraction of the tonearm; a fixed guide rod extending parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe tone arm, and a guide mounted on the movable end section andslidable on the ixed rod to guide the movable end section duringextension and contraction of the tone arm.

7. In a talking machine, a tone arm comprising a stationary end section,a movable end section, and an extensible-contractible intermediatesection connecting the two end sections; said intermediate sectionconsisting of a spirally wound band of resilient material with thecontiguous edges of the spirals overlapping to permit telescoping of theintermediate section during extension and contraction of the tone arm;

a fixed guide rod extending through the tone Si arm in axial alinementtherewith, brackets mounted on the casing of the talking machine andengaging the opposite ends of the rod, a sleeve slidable on the rodwithin the tone arm and attached to the movable end section to controlthe axial movement of said section during extension and contraction ofthe tone arm.

HONORE: FAUCHET.

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